The Bush Pods is a small business, run by two teachers, who have ventured outside of the walls and fences to establish holistic nature-based “bush school” programs. Our goals revolve around creating open-ended outdoor learning environments for people of all ages, to connect with nature, others and ourselves to find meaning and purpose, which also works to grow a sense of community for like minded people. Below we have outlined the apple core of our ideas to help others to understand our various approaches.
Everyone is a Teacher
The Bush Pods is a non-hierarchical place of learning, where everyone can be a teacher, and similarly, everyone can be a learner. Knowledge is continually shared by everyone and everything all of the time, this is something of our human condition. Therefore at the Bush Pods, nobody is prioritised as the one with all of the answers, we all have a variety of different answers to similar but different situations. Knowledge is shared between adults, children and the environment alike, in a triangular motion moving in all directions, and the most important factor in creating this culture of learning is listening.
The Flow
The flow, a natural phenomenon which works, almost as a guidance system, through intervals of surges of energy which subtly direct our choices and actions, allowing us to channel particular ideas and develop a range of holistic outcomes. The flow works as an internal and external rhythm; where we can grow, move, breathe, rest, and live. On a smaller scale, the flow works to guide our sessions, allowing us to listen to the environment, the children and ourselves, and therefore make decisions in the moment as ideas and energies emerge.
Prepared for Weather
Being organised and prepared for all weather types allows us to then embrace all weather types. Our Severe Weather Policy outlines various situations that would call for a Bush Pods session to be postponed, however, we feel that these situations are in fact very few and far between. The environment acts as a teacher within our sessions and plays a critical role that we are able to engage with to make decisions on how we can move and what is possible. Spending prepared real time with all weather types throughout the year allows for an ability to experience the subtle changes of the environment on a personal level, and therefore build a positive relationship with the environment from inside each of the seasons.
Independence
The ideas of independence, which essentially involves children being able to think and act for themselves, are all paramount to everything we do at the Bush Pods. More specifically, independence includes ideas from children developing a strong sense of identity, autonomy and agency, to them developing their own sense of social and emotional wellbeing. It is a critical life skill which allows people to move freely and trust their own judgement, creating their own safety checks and reasoning. To have self-belief through independence, is the foundation for developing further dispositions, such as confidence and creativity.
The Importance of Risky Play
While it is important to work closely with children about ideas and in moments of risky play, it is essentially a trust exercise on a range of levels. It is about adults demonstrating trust to children by standing back and trusting that children will instinctively make safe decisions. It is also about children learning to trust themselves, their bodies, and their decisions. The key to this is trusting in the belief that children want to succeed, and they are not interested in hurting themselves, which allows them to challenge themselves in ways that only they know how, therefore, it allows children, and adults, to build and grow their confidence and agency within themselves, and with others.
Aesthetics
The ideas of aesthetics have a range of meanings at the Bush Pods, which all relate to beauty and the way we see and interpret beauty. Whether through the use of art practices or in discussions during bushwalks, we are able to sense and feel the beauty that is all around us. We believe that aesthetics can be key to generating curiosity, as the lure of the beauty of nature creates continuous interest. We also believe that aesthetics can then be helpful in engaging in mindfulness activities, such as spending quiet times listening to the sounds that surround us, the ideas of beauty become a way to channel stillness and calm.
Holding Space
The seeds for holding space come from the ideas of play-based learning, where children can follow their own leads and work towards their own goals. To hold space, involves mentors providing a safe space for children to holistically problem solve and work through any range of problems, without the need for any major intervention. Holding space is about providing children with the space and time, as well as the patience and listening, for them to take their time and work through ideas at their own natural pace. When children have the space to follow their own learning, the learning is always deeper, richer and truly authentic.
